Job Market.

The sheer panic that people are experiencing when it comes to the job market is unnerving. Being employed aside even I'm feeling pressure because of the volume of attention this crisis is getting. While it keeps me thankful to have a job to get up for 5 days a week, I still find myself experiencing some anxiety.

On top of that I've been faced with some recent career choices. In a job market that people swear has made it next to impossible for people my age to find a job or even keep one - here I'm blessed enough to have options.

At 23, how do you know what you want out of the rest of your life? For those of us with majors that qualify us for any number of positions (less specilized than say, an electrical engineer) we are faced with choices on a fairly regular basis. Some think that the career you chose determines the one that will follow it. Others live under the assumption that you can change your path at any time.

While I would be inclined to agree with the later party, the crash of the job market that began a few years back and continues to keep the available careers plummeting - this opinion has somewhat changed. Now more than even it is important to make educated, well thought out career plans. For those of us in our early 20-somethings this is even more important!

As the United States builds an elite new breed of career obsessed youngsters, the pressure is on US to keep up or give up.

Here's how I am chosing to deal with this. First, my advice is to be bold. I never, ever encourage blind faith when it comes to your professional life. Question everything and everyone along the way. BUT even in times such as these it is important to be willing to be bold in your career path, having confidence in yourself that you are capable of what you take on.

Second, have a backup plan. While I encourage boldness in career choices I also offer you this bit of advice. Know what you are up against. It is taking people far longer to find jobs these days and so, you must know how to handle that should it come your way. I'm a firm believer in Suze Orman's 'Emergency Fund' plan. Don't live paycheck to paycheck in an economy that is currently seeing 6 months of unemployment between careers!

Support. Find a good support system no matter what your career. It pays to have people who care about your well-being. Always. Mer & Kate for example, have been great for me in this way. They've been my sounding board as I try to figure out my own next step - and really my next 10 steps. We dialog about grad school, career paths, finances. At 23, those are hard things to find in lady friends. So if and when you find those people, hang on tight!

Sorry to the utter lack of entries I have contributed as of late. But I hope this blog continues to be a haven of good 20-something info.

Love,
B

A New Venture

As I'm working full-time for my job that pays my bills, I'm also working on a writing career. I contribute to multiple publications, the newest one being an online style examiner. The more hits my articles get, the more successful the site is (just like anything else). Take a look; it will be updated frequently!

Orlando Fashion and Style Examiner

Enjoy!

School's Out for Summer

While we're not in school anymore, it's beginning to feel like real-life and school are still pretty related.

I'm realizing that everyone's travel plans increase during the summer. Our activities increase in anticipation of it, too. So, does this mean that we are all in a "school-mentality" for our whole life? I thought you were only in the school-mentality when you were, well, in school.

I partner with the school system for my job, so my work load gets a touch lighter when school isn't in session. I have plenty to do, but it's based on paperwork sorting and filing (not my favorite things). So, to compensate for the monotonous work, I'm planning for some different things this summer. Making the effort to volunteer, making travel plans, making new goals for the summer that include exploring this place I currently call home. All things that I really could have done during the school year if I wanted to make the time, but now that summer's here, it seems I have "nothing but time" (it's not actually true, hence the quotations). I feel like I'm understanding why vacations are typically taken during the summer. Everyone wants to get out of town. It's like summer brings out everyone's inner-child: June 1st hits and we're all chomping at the bit.

I know, this could very well be due to the fact that I'm a new graduate. Maybe I'm just in summer-mode because this is what I've known since I was 5-years-old. Either way, if you're excited and anticipating adventures for this summer, just know that you're not alone. And if being a grown-up means we're not allowed to think this way, then I guess adulthood will just have to wait.

{M}